bluebots

November 30th, 2016 at 12:46 AM ^

I'm a little surprised -- but pleasantly surprised at how little we've dropped.  I honestly thought we would be in the 7-9 range.  Part of it is that I find it hard to believe how well Colorado and PSU are regarded.  Especially since we demolished PSU.  

I also don't know that our offense really passes the eye test.  Our offensive line still needs a lot of work, and our running backs, while good, aren't really elite.  Mike Hart was probably the last great Michigan back, and that was a long time ago.

Joined: 03/11/2009

MGoPoints: 272

JamieH

November 30th, 2016 at 12:46 AM ^

I want us in the playoff, but if the playoffs takes TWO Big Ten teams that aren't even in the Big Ten title game, it makes a total mockery of the entire system.  In my opinion of course.

 

Of course, this is the reason that a 4-team playoff is idiotic to begin with.  You should have an 8-team playoff with the 5 conference champs and then OSU and MIchigan would probably be #6 and #7 In as wild-cards, which would be MUCH more fair than leaving a bunch of conference champs out for two Big Ten teams that didn't even win their division.   Why even have a conference championship game if this is what happens? 

Joined: 09/05/2009

MGoPoints: 28331

JamieH

November 30th, 2016 at 1:17 AM ^

But it is only worth $$$ if people believe it means SOMETHING.  If you take not one but TWO teams from the Big Ten that didn't even PLAY in the conference title game, that illusion is completely blown apart.  Who will even care who won the Big Ten Title this year?  It will be 100% meaningless.  It will immediately become probably the most worthless Big Ten Title in the history of the Big Ten.   Doesn't that indicate that something is fundamentally broken? 

Joined: 09/05/2009

MGoPoints: 28331

JamieH

November 30th, 2016 at 2:32 AM ^

Any UM basketball fan who actually followed the team in '89 would remember it was Indiana(without looking it up) since they won that heartbreaking game against us with the full court short at (or maybe after the buzzer.  Illinois also kicked our ass twice and finished ahead of us before we got our revenge in the tournament.  But basketball is a pretty different animal than football.  Leagues play post-season tournaments with almost everyone participating.  The league titles already don't mean anything.  And the post-season tournament includes up to half of the teams in any given conference.  It is an apples to oranges comparison with football. 

Joined: 09/05/2009

MGoPoints: 28331

Yeoman

November 30th, 2016 at 10:32 AM ^

But it wasn't always that way, is my point. There was a time, not all that long ago, when only conference champions made the tournament and except for the ACC those champions were determined during the regular season.

That changed because (1) there was a perception that the best team in a conference wasn't always the champion (largely thanks to the ACC using a tournament to decide their champion), and (2) money.

They could have fixed #1 by changing the ACC's process. But probably because of #2 they started expanding the tournament field instead, and everyone else matched their process to the ACC.

Joined: 06/08/2011

MGoPoints: 21390

drzoidburg

November 30th, 2016 at 1:47 AM ^

Well, that's the way it should be. The conference did this to itself by creating seriously imbalanced schedules with 14 teams / 9 games. Now it has the 3rd and 4th best teams in their 'championship' game. Really there's no justification for a conference where all the teams don't play each other

Joined: 09/20/2015

MGoPoints: 2220

drzoidburg

November 30th, 2016 at 1:46 AM ^

If Wash or Clemson lose the committee will have to set a precedence, and too bad it will likely leave UM screwed. They'd have to choose between one extra win and conference 'championship' and head to head result. Especially if it's Pedo St, that drubbing at the hands of UM and a weaker schedule will be really hard to justify But i also question Clemson's ranking, even if they win next week. Washington at least won at Utah and will have beaten Colorado, but Clemson? Louisville doesn't look so hot, losing to Pitt at home is, well, the pits, and definitely should've lost to NC St

Joined: 09/20/2015

MGoPoints: 2220

Cold War

November 30th, 2016 at 6:21 AM ^

I know it's my own fault for ever watching Mike & Mike, but they might want to rename the show "Why Michigan shouldn't be in the CFP". Golic and Kanell get visibly angry whenever the possibility is raised. It's striking for a show that is typically so vanilla.

Joined: 01/15/2012

MGoPoints: -3144

My_Boy_Brady

November 30th, 2016 at 7:47 AM ^

Kanell hates the B1G, and Michigan specifically. It's his "thing". I swear they teach these ESPN personalities to develop aggressive opinions, and then stick with them even when them regardless of outcome. They become like WWE heels, and that is good for ratings.



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Joined: 10/08/2013

MGoPoints: 284

wildbackdunesman

November 30th, 2016 at 6:47 AM ^

Nate Silver gives us only a 1% chance of making the playoffs.  I think he is high, he says Alabama has a 92% chance...no it is much higher.  He also says Penn State has a 21% chance - despite us blowing them out 49-10 and having more ranked wins.

Link.

Joined: 07/16/2008

MGoPoints: 30244

Cold War

November 30th, 2016 at 6:51 AM ^

Right now the field is Alabama, Ohio, Clemson and Washington. Should Clemson or Washington lose, they'll be replaced by the B1G champion. If they both lose we have a shot, but I'd be surprised if they put in three B1G teams.

Joined: 01/15/2012

MGoPoints: -3144

amaizenblue402

November 30th, 2016 at 7:53 AM ^

All of this talk is irrelevant if Washington takes care of business Friday night. If Colorado wins, hold on to your butts.



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Joined: 09/18/2010

MGoPoints: 14596

geewhiz99

November 30th, 2016 at 8:43 AM ^

My prediction is that Colorado will beat Washington but Wisconsin will thump Penn State leading to a final four of Alabama, OSU, Clemson, Wisconsin. I just don't see how Penn State can beat Wisconsin but Michigan will be the four seed if Penn State somehow manages to squeak by Wisconsin and Colorado beats Washington.

Joined: 01/31/2012

MGoPoints: 409

Durham Blue

November 30th, 2016 at 9:36 AM ^

If Wiscy wins a close one, say within about 10 points where most of the game is close, I don't think there's any way the committee puts them ahead of Michigan.  The only scenario that puts the B1G champ in is if one team totally dominates the other, as you suggest.  The Vegas line is 2.5 right now.  It's possible but I don't see it shaking out that way.

Joined: 10/09/2008

MGoPoints: 30004

Durham Blue

November 30th, 2016 at 9:33 AM ^

Most people are talking about getting in only if Washington loses.  Why wouldn't we get in if Washington wins and Clemson loses?  Clemson is playing a previously unranked VaTech team and a loss to them would make Clemson  look worse.  Clemson also came within a whisper of losing to 'barely bowl eligible' NC State at home.  And they lost to Pitt at home.  It's an either or scenario for Michigan AFAIC.

Joined: 10/09/2008

MGoPoints: 30004